(03/21/2018) Ye Are The Branches

Today, reply is on birth and “the fruit of the womb” along with Christ as the true vine, and his followers as his branches.  An important description of divine order among Christian believers says, first, that which is of the earth and natural, then, that which is of heaven and the spirit.  The holy writings use human events and things in the material and natural world along with familiar and plain language to communicate regarding the spirit character, makeup, process and eternal purpose of GOD.  Among the many analogies, figures, object lessons (parables), and types that appear, the created beings and living creatures of Creation are spoken of as plants fixed upon and joined to the earth in the same ways as corn, trees, and wheat.  Life and mankind are depicted as a divine crop growing in the soil of the earth whose fruit is to ripen (become mature), and be harvested at the Advent of Jesus Christ (we also say, his appearing; the Rapture; the Second Coming).  The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “GRANNY NORINE” (Level 1 with 235 points, a member since May 16, 2014) posted the following:


What does John 15:1; 4 mean?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap:  for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.  (Revelation 14:  14-16, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  I Am The Vine (03/20/2018); Childbearing Pertains to Judgment? (02/23/2018); GOD Appearing As Christ (12/03/2017); Acorns Become Oak Trees? (02/09/2017); Plantings of the Lord (02/10/2017); His Birth Signals Rebirth (01/03/2017); Prayer not Enough? (07/12/2013); A Tree Falls To The South (07/13/2013)


“GRANNY NORINE”, here are some points you may find useful for a more complete understanding of the language used in these holy writings:

John 15:  1, King James Version (KJV):  1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

John 15:  4, KJV:  4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

1.  Christian believers are to acknowledge that their condition is the same as that for the “fruit of the womb.”  Unborn babies must develop and begin to operate as having life while still within their mother’s womb cushioned, protected, and surrounded by birth fluid (many say, the water).

2.  The fruit in a pumpkin or watermelon patch are connected to the life-giving soil through the tendrils of a soft, thin vine that can not bear or lift its own fruit because of their great size and weight. 

3.  Until its birth, the unborn child (doctors say, the embryo; the fetus) remains in the “patch”.  Their limbs, organs, and tissues must appear; they must begin to process food within their own body, eliminate waste, age, and grow.  They will not take their first breath of air until they are outside the body of the mother. 

4.  Until the child is built up, the major works of carrying blood and air throughout the young body (we say, breathing, respiration) and pumping by the heart (we say, circulation) are done for the child by their host, the mother.  This is possible because they are attached to the mother through a soft, thin “vine” (doctors say, an umbilical cord).

5.  The communication between mother and child also is carried out somewhat through the cord.  Speech and thought by the mother may not be processed within the brain of the fetus, yet, nerve tissue data sets, impressions, and processing patterns within the mother can be transferred to the child.

6.  By the signals they exchange, the process of the birth will begin wherein the child moves through the birth canal to leave the mother’s womb.  Birth is accomplished by movements of both the child and the mother that should be in agreement (we say, rhythm).  The one pair are to exist as joined, yet, two independent life forms.  Thus, there is the cutting of the cord, and the separation we call “birth”.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, a “husbandman” is a farmer and the owner of a property; one who is joined (married?) as a caretaker and worker to land that may produce crops and fruits.  “To abide” is to indwell; to be at home; use as ones place of residence.  Where repentant sinners become joined to the fullness of divinity (we say, the GODhead; the Trinity; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), through Jesus Christ they are accounted as the new creation by having become joined to his death, burial, and resurrection from the dead.  Christ is called the early harvest and “firstfruit” from the dead.  He is the “true vine,” for his fruit is salvation and eternal life.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(03/20/2018) I Am The Vine

Today, the reply uses trees and vines to clarify the demands for commitment and dependence from those who become members joined to the body of Christ.  Correctly understood, eternal life comes by a relationship of continual exchange and interaction with divinity that remain unbroken and uninterrupted, even by sleep (i.e., death).  A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “Breakthrough” (Level 6 with 15,745 points, a member since June 29, 2013) posted the following:


How do you understand this verse?

"In me you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing."
To me it means you have to bear fruit for God if you want to be successful in your life


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest:  and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:  but gather the wheat into my barn.  (Matthew 13:  24-30, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Rebellious Fig Tree? (12/21/2016); Mustard Seed Faith? (01/16/2014); The Judges Who Condemned Jesus? (01/17/2014); The Barren Tree? (12/06/2013); Fruits From a Barren Tree? (12/07/2013); All Flesh is Grass? (10/29/2013); The Root of Jesse (01/03/2013); Newness of Spirit? (01/04/2013)


“Breakthrough”, for many developing and young Christians the verse you seem to have in mind is a poetic metaphor that speaks like a parable to the joining and unity that must exist for all those who come to Jesus seeking “new life.”  Those who join the church are counseled to never leave the church.  While the boughs and limbs of a tree bear up and display its fruit, the life of the fruit is not from either of those two members.  A Christian believer must become permanently attached to the Savior in the same way a living branch or limb extends from the trunk of a tree.  The branches and limbs are not embedded within the ground, and may not draw nourishment and water directly from the soil.  The trunk of a tree provides protection to the capillaries and other soft tube-like structures that transfer material from the soil below to the leaves and fruit of the tree that are above.  Like stems and twigs of the same tree, the branches and limbs must continually receive substance transferred through the process and strength of the roots—the life within the fruit does not come from the trunk, the branches, or the limbs.

Vines are very different from trees in the thickness and rigidity of their form.  While many vines do not display a strong, hard feature like a trunk that can ensure its survival, because they are thin and light-weight, they can send out feelers that allow them to cling on walls, trees, and other objects to become elevated to where they may receive the sun.  Despite the great size they sometimes achieve, grapes, pumpkins, and watermelon may grow on vines thinner than the spokes of a bicycle.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  John 15:  4-9, King James Version (KJV):  4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.  6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:  continue ye in my love.

(2.)  Romans 8:  5-10, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

(3.)  Galatians 5:  19-23, KJV:  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.) Matthew 5:  16, KJV:  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(10/29/2013) All Flesh is Grass?

Today, continuing the Scriptures on Scripture format, focus is upon human frailty, the brevity of life, and new birth through the Gospel.  At some point in their growth as a Christian, every believer will use Scriptures on Scripture (also identified as “concordance study” and “chain referencing”).  It is a basic tool for learning and sharing that should be helpful even to readers who are not familiar with the Bible and other holy writings.

SOME THOUGHTS ON

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:  surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  (Isaiah 40:  6-8, KJV)



Job 14:  1-3  (KJV)  1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.  2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:  he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.  3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

Isaiah 24:  3-5 (KJV)  3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled:  for the LORD hath spoken this word.  4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.  5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 64:  4-9 (KJV)  4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.  5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways:  behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned:  in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.  6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee:  for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.  8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.  9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever:  behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Jeremiah 8:  12-15 (KJV)  12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:  therefore shall they fall among them that fall:  in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.  13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD:  there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.  14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there:  for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.  15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

John 3:  1-12 (KJV)  3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Titus 3:  3-7 (KJV)  3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1st Peter 1:  22-25 (KJV)  22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

John 6:  53-55 (KJV)  53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father:  so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:  he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.



There is far more to be said, correctly shared, and spiritually understood.  Again, I ask readers to share Scriptures they feel should be added in the Comments area (see example, below).  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.  Jesus is coming.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC